diff --git a/lib/src/view/analysis/analysis_position_choice_screen.dart b/lib/src/view/analysis/analysis_position_choice_screen.dart
index 77691bc946..7fd0fc3b26 100644
--- a/lib/src/view/analysis/analysis_position_choice_screen.dart
+++ b/lib/src/view/analysis/analysis_position_choice_screen.dart
@@ -147,16 +147,19 @@ class _BodyState extends State<_Body> {
       final initialPosition = PgnGame.startingPosition(game.headers);
       final rule = Rule.fromPgn(game.headers['Variant']);
 
-      // require at least 1 valid move
-      if (game.moves.mainline().isEmpty) return null;
-      final move = initialPosition.parseSan(game.moves.mainline().first.san);
-      if (move == null) return null;
+      final mainlineMoves = game.moves.mainline();
+      //if there is a first move, require it to be valid, otherwise require a FEN
+      if ((mainlineMoves.isNotEmpty &&
+              (initialPosition.parseSan(mainlineMoves.first.san) == null)) ||
+          (mainlineMoves.isEmpty && game.headers['FEN'] == null)) {
+        return null;
+      }
 
       return AnalysisOptions(
         isLocalEvaluationAllowed: true,
         variant: rule != null ? Variant.fromRule(rule) : Variant.standard,
         pgn: textInput!,
-        initialMoveCursor: 1,
+        initialMoveCursor: mainlineMoves.isEmpty ? 0 : 1,
         orientation: Side.white,
         id: standaloneAnalysisId,
       );